Chivy, chivy, chivychok

Once upon a time, there lived an old man and an old woman. They lived in poverty and had reached the point where they had no firewood or kindling left.

The old woman sent the old man:
"Go to the forest and chop some firewood."

The old man got ready. He went to the forest, chose a tree, and started chopping it with his axe.

Suddenly, a little bird popped out of the tree and asked:
"Chivy, chivy, chivychok, what do you need, old man?"

"Well, the old woman needs firewood and kindling."

"Go home, you'll have plenty of firewood and kindling."

The old man listened and stopped chopping the tree. He returned home to find his yard full of firewood and kindling. He told the old woman about the bird, and she said:
"Our hut is falling apart—go back to the forest, old man, and see if the bird can fix our hut."

The old man obeyed. He went back to the forest, found the same tree, took his axe, and started chopping.

Again, the bird popped out:
"Chivy, chivy, chivychok, what do you need, old man?"

"Well, little bird, my hut is in terrible shape. Can you fix it?"

"Go home, you'll have a new hut with plenty of everything."

The old man returned home and couldn't believe his eyes: a new hut stood in his yard, filled to the brim with everything they needed—plenty of bread, and so many cows, horses, and sheep that he couldn't count them all.

They lived like this for a while, but the old woman grew tired of their wealthy life and said to the old man:
"We have everything we need, but we're just peasants—no one respects us. Go, old man, and ask the bird to make you an official and me an official's wife."

The old man took his axe. He went to the forest, found the tree, and started chopping. The bird popped out:
"Chivy, chivy, chivychok, what do you need, old man?"

"Well, dear bird, could you make me an official and my old woman an official's wife?"

"Go home, you'll be an official, and your old woman will be an official's wife."

He returned home. As he rode through the village, everyone took off their hats and bowed to him in fear. His yard was full of servants, and his old woman was dressed like a lady.

They lived like this for a short time, but the old woman wanted more.
"Being an official is no big deal! If the king wants, he can throw us in jail. Go, old man, and ask the bird to make you a king and me a queen."

The old man had no choice. He took his axe again, went to the forest, and started chopping the tree. The bird popped out:
"Chivy, chivy, chivychok, what do you need, old man?"

"Well, dear little bird, could you make me a king and my old woman a queen?"

"Go home, you'll be a king, and your old woman will be a queen."

He returned home, and messengers were already waiting for him: the king had died, and they had chosen him to take the throne.

The old man and the old woman didn't reign for long before the old woman grew dissatisfied again:
"Being a king is no big deal! If God wills it, death will come, and you'll be buried in the cold ground. Go, old man, and ask the bird to make us gods..."

The old man took his axe, went to the tree, and tried to chop it down to the roots. The bird popped out:
"Chivy, chivy, chivychok, what do you need, old man?"

"Please, little bird, make me a god."

"Very well, go home—you'll be a bull, and your old woman will be a pig."

The old man immediately turned into a bull. He returned home and saw that his old woman had become a pig.

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Chivy, chivy, chivychok

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